Beaumont man sues after entire staff stuck on Carnival cruise

By Robert Stanton

Published 12:06 pm, Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

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Members of the mariachi group Mariachi Los Gallitos dance as they entertain guests who are boarding the Carnival Triumph cruise ship, Thursday, June 13, 2013, at the Port of Galveston in Galveston. R( Nick de la Torre / Houston Chronicle ) less

Members of the mariachi group Mariachi Los Gallitos dance as they entertain guests who are boarding the Carnival Triumph cruise ship, Thursday, June 13, 2013, at the Port of Galveston in Galveston. R( Nick de ... more

Photo: Nick De La Torre, Staff

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The Carnival Cruise Lines vessel Triumph returned to the Port of Galveston on Tuesday after a five-month absence following a a February fire that left thousands of vacationers stranded for days in the Gulf of Mexico.
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News less

The Carnival Cruise Lines vessel Triumph returned to the Port of Galveston on Tuesday after a five-month absence following a a February fire that left thousands of vacationers stranded for days in the Gulf of ... more

Photo: Jennifer Reynolds, Photo Editor

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Richard and Lou Ann Bussey fish in the Galveston Ship Channel near the Carnival Cruise Lines vessel Triumph, which returned to the Port of Galveston on Tuesday. The ship will resume sailing Thursday after a five-month absence prompted by a February fire that left thousands of vacationers stranded for days in the Gulf of Mexico
JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News less

Richard and Lou Ann Bussey fish in the Galveston Ship Channel near the Carnival Cruise Lines vessel Triumph, which returned to the Port of Galveston on Tuesday. The ship will resume sailing Thursday after a ... more

Photo: Jennifer Reynolds, Photo Editor

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Carnival Triumph

Carnival Triumph

Photo: Carnival Cruise Lines

Beaumont man sues after entire staff stuck on Carnival cruise

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A Beaumont eye care business and a group of cruise ship passengers have filed separate lawsuits against Carnival Cruise Lines in connection with the ill-fated Carnival Triumph voyage in February.

Three days after leaving Galveston on Feb. 7 for Mexico, a fire ignited in the Triumph's engine room, disabling the vessel's propulsion system and knocking out power. The cruise ship drifted for days in the Gulf of Mexico before it was towed to Mobile, Ala., on Feb. 14.

Cass took his entire staff on a cruise aboard Carnival Triumph, and suffered economic losses due to the five-day delay in getting the employees back to reopen the business.

"This is purely an economic loss claim," said Beaumont attorney Matthew C. Matheny, who represents the eye center. "Dr. Cass actually took his entire office on a paid vacation, including some of their spouses. They were stranded out there and had to shut down the business for more than a week."

Cass also chartered a bus to get his staffers back to work, and sustained additional expenses with contract labor, Matheny said.

The lawsuit alleges that the cruise line was aware of the mechanical problems aboard the ship and failed to maintain the vessel "in a reasonable and safe manner to prevent a fire in the engine room." The cruise line also failed warn passengers of the danger, the lawsuit states.

In a separate lawsuit also filed Aug. 8, some passengers who were aboard the Triumph claim that they exposed to urine and feces and the odors of raw sewage that leaked through the ceilings, walls and floors.

The federal lawsuit also alleges that passengers were exposed to extreme heat and cold temperatures and had to wait in long lines to get water and food.

The lawsuit, filed by Beaumont attorney T. Roebuck, alleges that Carnival was negligent for failing to maintain the vessel in a reasonable and safe manner, for failing to hire and supervise competent management, and for failing to provide sanitary accommodations, adequate food and drinking water, and ventilation.

The lawsuit seeks an award of damages for discomfort, medical expenses, mental anguish and lost earnings, and out-of-pocket expenses.